Bluma-The Artful Botanic

Yesterday was Bluma: The Artful Botanic’s 7th year anniversary! As many of you know, this floral business is a humble one. With a full time job, I strive to do a few gigs a yearfor me these are a creative outlet that add beauty to people’s life celebrations and just cover my costs. It’s not what some might consider a profitable business model but it is an awesome experienceI love the amazing clients I get to work with, the time spent being creative with flowers, & learning... something about myself and running a business every time. COVID-19 has turned every industry upside down, including the ones that support people gathering for celebrations. I know this new reality is asking and demanding changes in the ways we do just about everything and how we think about our care and support of each other. As a white female, the calls to reckon with systemic and personal racism and examine how we are complicit in perpetuating white supremacy has left me with lots of food for thought. I’m diving into how I can do and be better in all areas of my life, including in my small business. Some ideas I’m considering: recommending and supporting BIPOC florists/flower growers, being mindful about where I’m sourcing my flowers and supplies, what images I’m putting out, and how I’m making my values apparent. Let me know your thoughts and/or if you have other ideas, I’m here for it. Hope you are taking good care of yourselves and each other. And thanks for reading this extra long post and for your support of Bluma: The Artful Botanic over these last seven years. It means so much. <3 <3 <3 IMAGE: light pink and purple flowers (wild sweet pea, Lathyrus vestitus) growing on the trail at Land’s End, San Francisco.

Photograph of Lisa of Bluma-The Artful Botanic by Racheal Pavkovic

Photograph of Lisa of Bluma-The Artful Botanic by Racheal Pavkovic

It is February, friends! Hope you were able to enjoy some sunshine today. Bluma-The Artful Botanic is getting ready for another floral season. This small business is entirely word of mouth. If you have friends or family who are having celebrations in 2020 and 2021 and looking for flowers, please pass my information along! www.bluma.us (my website) and blumatheartfulbotanic at gmail are the best ways to get in touch. Thank you so much! <3 Lisa

Bluma: The Artful Botanic celebrated 6 YEARS of existence last week!! I am delighted, as always, to be able to do this and thankful to all my wonderful clients and my supportive friends/family who have helped spread the word. Today I have been enjoying the sunset palette of the flowers that I am doing for my friend, Emily, who gets married tomorrow! Yay for summer, yay for friends, yay for fleurs!

I had an incredible time doing flowers for Andrea and Danny's beautiful wedding in the Tilden Botanical Garden last October. They wanted flowers in purples and greens that would honor their Thai and Mexican heritages. I used orchids, air plants, sage, oregano, jasmine, calla lily among other flowers and plants. I love creative couples! Thank you to Emily for the connection. <3 All photographs by Robbie Sweeny www.robbiesweenyphotography.com

Corsages of orchids, larkspur, jasmine, sage, oregano, tiny dahlias & scabiosa pods for the beautiful wedding of Andrea and Danny last weekend. I had such fun creating florals that combined the bride and groom's Thai & Mexican heritages.

Also! Bluma is entirely word of mouth. If you know friends or family members who are getting married in late 2018 and into 2019, please pass my information along! www.bluma.us and my email blumatheartfulbotanic@gmail are the best ways to get in touch. <3 and gratitude, Lisa

Bridal bouquet for Emily. <3

Jenny's bridal bouquet. Photograph by Photoflood Studio. www.photofloodstudio.com

It is warm in the Bay Area, which means it must be fall! Bluma-The Artful Botanic is looking forward to October because we've got two weddings coming up in one of the best months in the Bay. Here are some photographs of flowers from past October weddings. Enjoy and happy Friday, you all!

Last Wednesday I went to my first wedding industry mixer at the San Francisco Mint sponsored by The Knot Pro. Networking does not come naturally to me. Most of my clients have come from word of mouth (thanks to you all!) so I have to say it was a little awkward for me, but I had fun, met a few people, and got to enjoy a delicious vegan green tea popsicle (check out Conscious Creamery yum!!) and be in a beautiful unusual venue. Here's to pushing ourselves to go outside our comfort zone!

Bluma had the pleasure of doing flowers for Michael and Alicia's gorgeous wedding last June in Mendocino. Here are some beautiful photographs of the wedding flowers by The Goodness www.thegoodness.com I have also included a sweet photograph of Michael with his mother, Meg who was an important supporter of me and so many others. While Meg is gone from this physical realm, her profound influence and dynamic personality lives on. <3

Peonies, lisianthus, eucalyptus berries, and mint centerpieces at Michael and Alicia's wedding, Mendocino, CA. Photograph by The Goodness www.thegoodness.com

Bluma: The Artful Botanic is excited to design flowers for two weddings in October! Here's a photo of a Bluma bouquet from an October wedding. Photograph by Deborah Coleman.

Today is the fifth anniversary of Bluma: The Artful Botanic! It has been and continues to be an incredible learning experience and awesome floral adventure. I am grateful for my fantastic clients and the wonderful vendors with whom I have worked. Big shout out to my friends and family who have been encouraging, supportive, & have helped spread the word throughout these 5 years. You rock! Check out www.bluma.us for more floral magic. Let's hear it for the FLEURS! All photographs by Photoflood Studio www.photofloodstudio.com from the beautiful wedding of Jenny and Alex August 27, 2017, Berkeley, CA.